Danny Mekanik

About

DJ, Producer, Remixer, Songwriter
Danny Mekanik is Original House!
Influenced in the 1980’s by the sounds coming from Chicago, Danny started making House Music in 1986 and created his first ‘Acid House’ Track in 1988, his debut single ‘Ride the Rhythm’ - This Ain’t Chicago was released amidst the beginnings of House music hitting the UK for the first time. Danny was seminal in the UK House scene. This was the start of a very long and varied career.
With more than 30 years in Dance Music, you will most definitely have come across Danny Mekanik under one of his monikers from 3 decades in the industry. Starting in the mid 1980’s with This Ain’t Chicago & working through Candy Flip, Sure is Pure, Sound 5, and most recently Soul Mekanik. Any long-standing House music lover will have danced to, listened or played from their collection one of his creations, whether it be his original or remix work. They may well also have attended or heard of the inimitable WoNk parties which Danny founded almost 10 years ago and which are still going strong.
Danny’s new release ‘Same as it never was’ is out on August 9th on Barcelona based Ocata Records and he recently signed ‘Trippin in the Park’ to Work Room, with a release date imminent.
The productions just seem to be flowing now under the influence of the Barcelona City energy and Danny is open to all creative interactions, with so much to offer.
With a recent relocation to Barcelona Danny is excited about new ventures here in the City. “There’s lots happening right now. New productions in the pipeline and being released, exciting collaborations and more DJ sets about the City, which I love”. Most recently playing at Bus El Forum with Paradisco on June 2nd and at Switch Pocket Club on Saturday 22nd. He has a bi-monthly at Garage 442 with his own venture Barcelona House Music Lovers, at times bringing in guests to jam on Wednesdays... and the occasional Saturday. Check out links for dates on resident advisor.
He continues with his own night in the UK - WoNk with their next pARTy happening there on 27th July. You can join Wonk Nation on fb or see events or at . The first WonK Barcelona weekender is scheduled for the 6th, 7th and 8th of December. Details coming soon for that! Also check or the equivalent on facebook for more info.
In today’s music culture there are a multitude of sub-cultures with subcategories of the House genre: progressive house; deep house; tech house; soulful house and other more divisive titles, dividing and marginalising what is a much more meaningful entity. House music is a way of life for Danny and he cannot be put into a box. Danny is not containable, imitable nor confined to any constraints of current labels. Danny is the whole outside of the box! Danny is the epitome in musical standards of Pure House. What he brings to a DJ set when he plays comes from the heart and no amount of labelling or spin can emanate what comes from him as a source. Wherever Danny plays he will rock the crowd!
With a rich history and wealth of experience producing his own material, released in the past on Vinyl Solution, Phonogram, Union City, Gem and from 2010 his own label Wonk Records, Danny had music released in 2018 on Moiré Product. He has spent many years in the studio, grafting tirelessly mastering his craft. His credits demonstrate years of work and collaborations with a number of big name artists including: Sister Sledge; The Doobie Brothers; Aretha Franklin; Diana Ross; Marvin Gaye; The Miracles; INXS; Blueboy; Paul Simpson & Adeva; 808 State & Inner City & Frankie Goes to Hollywood, to name but a few.
Starting as a Sound Engineer in the UK in 1986, by 1990 Danny had his first chart success with his hit as Candy Flip, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ which he created in the garage of his parents house. It went to number 3 in the British charts and he found himself singing live on worldwide television and touring the globe delivering concerts to packed out audiences. Before that in 1988 Danny created what became the UK’s first home grown Acid House Record with This Ain’t Chicago, ‘Ride the Rhythm (Acid not Placid)’. This was just the beginning of a long and varied career and for the next 20 years Danny continuously created, produced, wrote and played music, working with the likes of Robbie Williams, Kylie Minouge, Tom Jones and Lana Del Rey in the studio.
Danny was born into a family of music. His Dad was a successful recording artist working under various names, including: Tony Kaye and Toby Browne amongst others and served as band leader for the legendary Sandie Shaw. It wasn’t unusual for Danny to wake up as a child to find famous Soul Singers had spent the night on their couch. He grew up surrounded by music and artists and was managed by his Dad until his unfortunate and premature death. Without his Dad’s guidance Danny simply continued doing what he did best and it’s the only thing he’s ever done - music!
Danny launched Wonk in 2009 as a new House night. Almost 10 years on, wOnK is steadily growing and is something unique and loved by many. With 2 annual micro festivals in Staffordshire and Wales for 6 of those years, regular party nights in Staffordshire and surrounding areas, a packed boat party at Electric Elephant Festival in Croatia, a number of beach parties in North Cyprus and great nights in North Nicosia, 2018 saw the 4th annual Wonk Cyprus, bringing in an international crowd to the beautiful North of the island. Danny keeps the vibe alive playing in his own unique way.
His skills as a DJ and ability to bring a crowd alive has seen him play in venues across the world, including: London - Fabric, The End, East Village, The Egg; Miami - Amica Lounge, Shine @ The Shelborne; Los Angeles - Moon Shadows, The Social; Paris - Folies Pigalle; Milan - Punta Del Este; as well as Russia, Japan, Belgium, Cyprus and more, alongside the likes of Frankie Knuckles, Jon Dasilva, Marshall Jefferson, Maurice Fulton, Pepe Braddock, Justin Robertson & Jeremy Healey.
Bookings: info@planetwonk.net